Cooper's performance in defence has always drawn criticism since he made his Super Rugby debut as an 18-year-old in 2007.

It has come under the microscope already this season after he registered three missed tackles from seven attempts in the Reds' 30-6 loss to New South Wales in round two, while the following week he made only seven of his 13 tackle attempts in the 31-25 win over the Brumbies.

This inauspicious start to the season on the defensive side of the ball follows the Wallabies' spring tour last year where coach Robbie Deans publicly stated that Cooper could be dropped from the starting XV unless his tackling improved.

Deans did admit that Cooper's outstanding attacking ability provided a significant "point of difference", but his poor display in defence in the Wallabies' 35-18 loss to England at Twickenham last November could not go unnoticed.

Since McKenzie took charge of the Reds last season Cooper has often been shifted to either the blindside wing position or full-back when defending off set pieces, a ploy Eddie Jones and Phil Mooney also used when in charge at Ballymore.

McKenzie is unfazed by Cooper's defensive statistics during the opening rounds, correctly citing that his team-mates also missed their fair share of tackles in the defeat of the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.

The centres pairing of Anthony Faingaa and Will Chambers collectively dropped off nine tackles, while winger Digby Ioane (four) and full-back Ben Lucas (four) were also guilty of defensive lapses.

"If you go through the tackle sheet you will find everyone missed tackles in that game and some missed more than one," McKenzie said.

"So missing tackles isn't unique to any individual and as much as everyone wants to focus on it, if you look across every game you'll find players missing tackles.

"He's working on it ... he missed some, but they can cost you tries, sometimes they cost you nothing."

Master versus pupil

If there is a coach during the professional era that has led the way in exploiting the 10 channel in defence, it is Rebels boss Rod Macqueen.

During his stint with the Brumbies (1996-97) and when in charge of the Wallabies (1997-2001) Macqueen often formulated game plans that took advantage of a fly half's defensive flaws, a notable example being the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney in 1999.

Macqueen frequently used rampaging number eight Toutai Kefu at first receiver off line-outs to charge at All Blacks fly half Andrew Mehrtens, in addition to launching outside centre Daniel Herbert on a series of angled runs back towards the 10 channel.

Mehrtens, not a noted tackler, became a turnstile, allowing the Wallabies to repeatedly advance past the advantage line and this helped set up their convincing 28-7 victory.

While the game has changed since Macqueen led the Wallabies, he remains a keen strategist and it is more than likely he will look to target Cooper in defence.

McKenzie played under Macqueen at both the Waratahs and Brumbies, and coached alongside him as an assistant at the Wallabies.

He is expecting Macqueen to have more than a few tricks up his sleeve when the Rebels - who have won one of their opening four matches - take to Lang Park.

"He's cagey, I know him pretty well," McKenzie said.

"I've been coached by him and I've coached with him and I've know him for a long time, going back to the early '90s. I know a bit about him, I suppose he knows a bit about us but he's got them going quite well."

The Reds conceded four tries against the Brumbies, but McKenzie points out this had more to do with defensive structure than tackling technique.

He highlights that the Reds were able to pressure the home side into turning the ball over via 'offensive' defence.

"This year we've been able to force a lot more turnovers and forced the opposition into mistakes, which we were able to do against the Brumbies," McKenzie said.

Meanwhile, McKenzie says the Rebels will miss full-back Mark Gerrard because of how vital his kicking game has been for the Rebels since making his first appearance of the season in the 25-24 win over the Brumbies in round two.

Gerrard will be sidelined for four weeks with a shoulder injury, although McKenzie feels English fly half Danny Cipriani will be able to provide the Rebels with a suitable field position game through his competent kicking skills.